Opinion: Chris Christie’s Gay Marriage Gambit

Political Diary editor Jason Riley on the New Jersey governor’s decision to drop the state’s legal challenge to same-sex marriage. Photos: AP

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.

I ... I ... back to Opinion Journal I'm Mary Kissel ... new Jersey Governor Chris Christie earlier this week dropped an appeal ... to a court decision that allowed gay marriage in New Jersey assisting could move politically ... for a guy is running for re election for governor in a blue state ... and you may run for president ... I've got political diary editor and Fox News contributor Jason Riley joining me now ... I Jason ... it is this a good move for the government ... I think in the long run it is a win-win for Chris Christie Mary ... um as you mention New Jersey is a blue stays up ... for re-election ... up very shortly ... and um ... he's you know he can say I've I've talked to fight here I veto this legislation after ... the of the lawmakers passed the Senate to my desk ... and I'm reading the writing on the wall here in terms of the court decision was the unanimous ruling by the justices ... be taken as far as they can go and now as another issue which is activist courts and I think I think that way I'm ... going for okay well he's already way ahead in this race against Democrat Harper while now but that let's talk a little bit in on New Jersey because this guy definitely has presidential aspirations ... on the key to how this is going to help him with say social conservatives in the Republican party if he's won in a presidential ... when the short run I think it might hurt them a little bit and I say that because ... some social groups issued statements after this news such as the family Research Council ... another of social conservative groups disagreeing with his decision to drop the suit but I think in the long run he can say I stop to my principles is the blue states Obama won handily ok and and and and and we have another issue here which is activist courts ok been chasing he was making the activist core argument at the beginning he were true to his principles when he just ... continued on with this appeal has said no ... the people of New Jersey should decide not these unelected closely he did call for a referendum and we do know that up until last year almost everywhere gay marriage have been put ... on the ballot it had gone down we had ... some differing outcomes laughter but still an overwhelming number ... of cases with its blue state ... red state didn't matter that the general public seems not to go for gay marriage when it's put ... took on the boat then he called for one am again he also veto the ... legislation that the lawmakers in New Jersey Sen and so he could say I I fought the good fight now who will say ... I took the court cases farcical on as a business case of trying to win on winnable ... cases in the core of ten courts of funny stuff really becoming a national political figure of political diary editor and Fox News contributor Jason Riley ... on gay marriage and Chris Christie ... thanks for